Demolition, remediation to start this winter

By Dan DuChene
Sep. 23, 2009 · 10:31 a.m.

Ypsilanti hopes to have buildings removed and soil remediated on Water Street before spring ends in 2010.

City Council unanimously selected Florida-based Environment Consulting and Technology, Inc. to spear head the grant-funded $850,000 project to demolish remaining buildings and remediate contaminated soil in the long-stalled project.

Among 11 other applicants that responded to a bid request from the city by the Sept. 11 deadline, ECT was recommended to City Council based on four different criteria, City Planner Richard Murphy said at the meeting Tuesday.

He said staff considered experience and capabilities, understanding of technical requirements for the site, proposed scope of work and competitive pricing and timeline. Murphy said the city has been working with ECT for much of the project’s 10-year history, which puts the firm in a good position to spearhead this project for the city.

Of the total budget, ECT will be receiving $100,000 for planning the project and bidding out work to other contractors, according to John D’Addona, the company’s brownfield services manager. He said the firm will be selecting contractors based on city bidding requirements.

D’Addona said his firm will begin planning the project as soon as the money is allowed to be spent, Oct. 1. Bids for contracted work will likely go out in November, with work starting on the site in December. He said the project would be wrapping up with some light work in April.

Funding for the project comes from four different grants applied for as late as Nov. 2008. $600,000, the bulk of the project’s budget, came from three different grants from the Environmental Protection Agency. An additional $250,000 was awarded from the Washtenaw County Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

D’Addona said he isn’t completely sure all of the work will be completed inside his budget. He said there may be some below ground demolition that doesn’t get finished, depending on the scope of the work inside his project budget. He said unexpected costs may arise due to unknown problems or set backs.